ft  m 


^ 


Ex  tibris 
C.  K.  OGDEN 


REPLY, 


T  O    T  H  E 


Rev.  Mr.   WESLETs 

ADDRESS 

TO    THE 

C    L    E     R    G    T. 


ridiculum  acri.          HoRi 


<&0&C&0&C$3Cfrc&cfrc^^ 

By  the  Rev.  JAMES   BULLER,   M.  A. 

^Cfco&0&0$X&C&C&C$3^^ 


BRISTOL: 

..  Printed  by  S.  FARLEY,  in  CaJlle-Green,    1756. 


RE  PLY, 


WAS  attending  a  Funeral  (admit  my 
I  u  Apology  for  Abfence)  when  your 
Addrefs,  but  more  aptly  your  paf- 
toral  Letter  to  the  Clergy  >  was  left 
at  my  Houfe  ;  the  very  Title-Page  of  which 
evinced  Madnefs  or  Infolency  to  Perfection. 
Had  I  been  at  Home,  both  your  MerTenger 
F  and  Prefent  had  been  difmifs'd  with  a  proper 
Refentment  for  the  Affront.  In  my  humble 
Opinion,  I  mould  have  {hewed  too  much  Ho- 
nour to  any  Prejbyter,  and  too  little  to  any 
.  Bifljop  of  our  Church  by  accepting  fuch  a  'Thing. 
HHHW  To  be  plain  with  you  Sir,  it 
came  quite  too  late  for  me,  who  had  heard, 
from  a  fingle  Charge  of  a  worthy  Diocefan,  In- 
ftruction  fufficient  to  fuperfede  the  Neceffity 
of  your  Impertinence  .  My  prefent,  and  fu- 
ture Province  is  rather  to  practife,  than  learn 
my  Duty. 

BUT  to  fome  of  the  Clergy  of  this  City  it 
came  unqueftionably  very  opportune,  as  they 
neither  heard  the  above,  nor  in  your  Opi- 
nion is  there  any  Probability  of  their  hearing 

the 


1059541 


[4] 

the  like.  For  furely  you  conclude,  that 
fome  of  our  Bijhops  are  leaden  Dolors,  and 
cannot  -,  or  that  they  are  infiuenc'd  by  fome 
Motive  or  other,  and  fo  do  not  difcharge  the 
Offices  of  their  Functions ;  otherwife  I  am 
entirely  at  a  Lofs  to  conceive,  what  cou'd  in- 
duce you,  thus  {indecently  to  ufurp  their 
ChairSy  and  addrefs  the  whole  Body  of  the 
Clergy. 

HAD  you  tried  the  Experiment  firfl  of  all 
upon  the  Teachers  of  the  feparate  Congrega- 
tions in  our  Nation,  of  whatsoever  Denomina- 
tion, whom  GOD  has  called,  you  fay,  to  watch 
over  the  Souls  of  others,  as  they  that  muft  give  an 
Account;  your  ill  Succefs  would  probably  have 
prevented  any  farther  Attempt  of  that  Kind. 
I  am  very  much  miftaken  if  in  feven  Years, 
with  your  utmoft  Abilities,  and  moft  unwea- 
ried Endeavours,  join'd  with  the  earned  Wimes 
of  Succefs  from  all  the  Brethren^jmj^^^^ 
have  convinc'd  a  fingle  Female  Orn 
Hariieft  being  great,  and  the  Labourers  few , 
Women,  are  admitted  Fellow-Helpers  with 
the  Men,  being  allow'd  to  hold  forth  in  cer- 
tain Congregations,  for  the  Work  of  the  Mi- 
niflry,  for  Edification  and  Inftruflion  in  Righ- 
teoufnefs.  However  rude  and  empty  in  Know- 
ledge you  may  find  fuch,  "  they  are  certainly 
the  moft  petulant  Creatures  in  the  World, 
and  are  far  wifcr  in  their  own  Eyes,  than  feventy 
limes  feven  Men  that  can  render  a  Reafon. 
Reafoning  therefore  is  not  the  Weapon  to 

be 


[  5  ] 

be  ufed  with  them.  You  cannot  deal  with 
them  thus.  They  fcorn  being  convinced  ; 
nor  can  they  be  filenc'd,  but  in  their  own 
Way,"  by  being  talk'd  out  of  Breath,  as 
much  as  in  the  Grave. 

You  may  "begin  with,  and infift  upon  the 
Gifts  that  are  from  Nature,  a  good  Under 'fland- 
ing,  a  clear  Apprehenfion,  a  found  Judgment ;J* 
the  Anfwer  is  ready,  the  Power  is  of  GOD, 
and  not  of  Us.  "  Your  Capacity  of  Reafoning 
with  fome  Clofenefs*  will  be  as  eafily  an- 
fwer'd  by  a  Loquacity  almoft  endlefs.  All 
your  human  Learning  will  be  filenc'd,  with 
Science  falfly  fo  call'd-,  your  "  Knowledge  of 
Tongues,"  with  thou  has  not  learn'd  thy 
A.  B.  C.  in  CHRIST,  and  all  your  "  Live- 
line/*  and  Readinefs  of  Thought"  with  fenfe- 
lefs  Cant. 

Now  if,  after  exercifing  the  Patience  of 
Job  with  this  Female  Priejlhood  you  fuc- 
ceed  no  better;  with  their  Male  Priefthood 
you  will  fucceed  worfe.  For  mould  you 
but  once  mention  "  Logick,  the  Matbema- 
ticks,  and  Geometry ;"  or  the  acquiring  the 
Knowledge  of  the  <{  Greek  and  Hebrew 
Tongues,"  as  neceffary  to  the  Explanation 
of  holy  Scripture ;  the  Law  as  a  Shadow 
only  of  better  Things  to  come,  is  done  away, 
they  will  tell  you,  in  CHRIST.  The  written 
Word  they  have  long  lincc  rejected,  as  Du/l, 
Serpents  Meat,  the  Refufet  and  Off-fcouring 

oir 


[6] 

of  all  Things.  The  Go/pel  they  aver  to  be 
written  in  the  inner  Man  j  and  the  Light  within 
them  to  be  their  Index.  They  will  make  a 
Mock  and  Scorn  of  you,  and  your  dark  Lan- 
thorn  human*  Helps,  as  better  adapted  for  ob- 
fcuring  and  extinguiming,  than  brightening 
and  increafing  this  all-fufficient  Light  within 
them. 

ADDRESS  yourfelf  ferioufly  to  the  many 
ignorant  Perfons,  that  officiate  as  Priefts,  in 
other  feperate  Congregations.  Alk  them, 
how  they  dare  intrude  themfelves  into  the 
Prieftbood,  having  been  brought  up  to 
Trade  ;  or  how  they,  who  hardly  underftand 
their  Mother-Tongue ,  mould  yet  undertake 
to  unfold  and  explain  the  holy  Scriptures  -f 
which  as  an  Apojlle  informs  us,  fome  Per- 
fons that  are  unlearned,  wreji  to  their  own 
DESTRUCTION  ?  In  Anfwer  to  this,  they  will 
alfo  afk  you,  with  what  Face  you  oan  put 
fuch  Queftions  to  them  ?  You,  who  have 
introduced,  or  permitted  to  officiate  for  Priefts 
in  your  Conventicles,  fome  of  the  loweft 
Cfafs  of  the  People,  worfe  qualified  than 
Jeroboams  Prie/ls  were  ?  For  they  received 
of  him  their  Confccration,  whereas  thefe 
may  pretend  to  a  Call  from  GOD,  but  dont 
in  the  leaft  pretend  to  be  ordered  of  Men. 
You  coax  and  wheedle  Folk  into  your  Soci- 
ety, by  the  Harmlcfnejs  of  the  Dove-,  you 
fine-draw  find  cloje-Jfitch  fuch,  as  don't  chofe 

to 


[  7] 

to  be  linked  into  your  Chain;  you  compel 
others  by  the  gentle  Twig  of  your  Compaf- 

fwn ;  and  Dragoon  in  the  Stragglers  by  the 
Sword  of  the  Spirit.  You  buoy  up  filly 
Women  laden  with  Sinsy  into  a  fmlefs  Per- 

fetfion.  Thofe  meek'  Lambs  of  CHRIST, 
(well  learned,  howfoever  taught,)  abound 
with  the  moft  uncharitable  Cenfures  towards 
others,  as  are  not  exactly  of  their  Way  of 
thinking.  They  are  fo  weak  as  to  expect, 
that  we  mould  verily  believe,  their  modeft 
Pretenfions  to  an  Angelical  Purity ;  tho'  the 
apparent  Want  of  Charity^  the  Bond  of  Per- 

Jeftnefs,  be  the  clearer!  Demonftration  of  the 
contrary.  The  following  Inftance  may  elu- 
cidate, both  the  Spirit  of  your  Doffrine  and 
Teachers,  A  moft  ftricl:  Follower  of  you, 
kd  by  meer  Fancy  or  Curiofity,  rode  to  a 
Country  Fair  j  for  which  his  infallible  Paftor 
thundered  out,  a  moft  terrible  Anathema  a- 
gainft  him ;  declaring  that  not  only  he,  but 
alfo  all  they  that  went  to  that  Fair,  would  be 
damned:  And  on  fome  following  LORD'S 
Day, — level'd  a  whole  Sermon  againft  him. 
The  aforefaid  Perfon  moft  folemnly  declares, 
that  having  taken  a  curfory  View  of  the  faid 
Fair,  he  returned  forthwith  to  his  Home; 
without  fitting  down,  eating,  drinking,  or 
fo  much  as  fpeaking  a  Word  to  any  Perfon. 
l&s  fpiritually  difcerningPaftor^  it  feems,  faw 
an  unpardonable  tin  in  this,  with  ^frngle  Eye? 
where  the  other  could  not  perceive  the  leaft 

Offence 


[8] 

Offence  with  both  ;  and  therefore  cautioufly 
abftains,  from  prefuming  to  defile  fuch  holy 
S)  with  his  Prefence. 


WOULD  you  addrefs  yourfelf,  to  the 
Teachers  of  other  feparate  Congregations  ? 
You'd  receive  a  {hotter  Anfwer;  that  they 
were  determin'd  to  fubmit  to  no  other  Bijhop, 
but  the  great  Bijhop  of  Souls.  However  all  of 
them  are  obliged  to  you,  for  your  Acknow- 
ledgements of  their  being  call'd  by  GOD,  to 
watch  over  the  Souls  of  other  S-,  and  you  will  high- 
ly merit  their  united  Thanks,  when  you  mall 
have  proved  your  Aflertion. 

WHEN  it  is  objected  to  fome,  what  Sort  of 
Doctrine  is  frequently  delivered  by  the  Speak- 
ers, in  their  Meetings-,  they  frankly  acknow- 
ledge, that  they  permit  all  to  teach  amongft 
them,  that  think  they  have  the  Spirit  of  GOD. 
They  dont  pretend  to  be  infallible  Judges  ;  or 
to  have  the  Knack.,  that  invaluable  Secret,  of 
Spiritual  Difcernment.  Their  Preachers  have 
a  moft  compendious  Method,  an  eafy  Way  of 
proving,  each  his  particular  Call'.  A  tingle 
fay  fo  fatisfies  thefe  plain  People,  void  of 
all  Hypocrify,  and  all  Guile.  I  cannot 
imagine,  what  other  Proof  befides  the  fore- 
going, you  will  be  able  to  produce  for  them  ; 
but  'till  you  have,  this  weighty  Affair  muft 
reft  on  fo  flender,  or  rather  no  Manner  of 
Proof  at  all. 

THE 


[9] 

THE  Defenders  of  Prefbyter- Ordination^ 
how  much  foever  they  would  rejoice,  to  fed 
their  Ordination  proved  truely  Apoftolical^ 
are  too  confcious  to  themfelves,  that  all  has 
been  faid,  and  all  done,  in  Support  of  a 
favourite  Caufe ;  that  human  Wit  and  Learn- 
ing,  rack'd  and  tortur'd  in  the  higheft  De- 
gree, can  produce,  and  therefore  that  the 
ableft  Scribe,  tho'  he  bring  out  of  his  Trea- 
fures  Things  new  and  old,  can  never  better  their 
Caufe.  I  fay  not  this  to  difcourage  your 
Search,  but  will  undertake  to  conclude  fof 
you  myfelf,  that  after  the  ftricteft  Perufal  pf 
the  Fathers,  and  all  the  befl  Writers  -,  your 
Confeffion  will  amount  to  no  more,  than  an 
ingenious  Author's,  lately  employed  in  fearch- 
ing  after  Proofs,  for  the  Infallibility  of  the 
Pope ,  did ;  that  the  more  you  read,  the  lefs 
you  was  able  to  prove  it. 

As  to  the  Power  of  Laymen  to  confecrate 
and  ordain  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel,  it  is  fuch 
a  Monfter  in  Nature,  that  when  you  are  abld 
to  prove,  that  the  Feet  ought  to  give  Laws 
to,  rule,  and  govern  the  Head-,  you  may 
prove  the  Reafonablenefs  and  Legality  of  it. 

As  our  Saviour  whilft  on  Earth,  Under- 
went all  that  he  was  to  fuffer ;  fo  did  he  finifh 
all  that,  which  became  him  to  perform  ;  as 
he  had  undertaken  to  accomplish,  throughout 

B  all 


all  the  fucceeding  Ages  of  the  World,  his  Me- 
diation betwixt  an  offended  GOD,  and  a  rebel- 
lious and  difobedient  Creature.  Amongft  the 
various  Kinds  of  which,  that  of  embodying 
his  Church  under  an  orderly  Government, 
was  none  of  the  leaft ;  in  order  to  propagate 
and  perpetuate  what  he  had  fo  well  begun. 
He  ordained  firft  of  all  Apoftles,  who  were  to 
difperfe  his  Doctrines  throughout  the  World, 
and  gave  them  alfo  Authority  to  conftitute  a 
Priefthood,  fettled  upon  a  new  Commiffion, 
and  of  another  Nature  from  that  of  the  Jews  j 
not  only  becaufe  of  its  Spirituality,  but  by  de- 
volving, and  limiting  the  Power  of  it  by  their 
proper  Determination,  to  a  feledt  Body  of 
Men.  He  authorizes  them  likewife  with 
Refpect  to  the  Difcipline  of  his  Church,  to 
frame  fuch  a  Government  for  it,  as  the  Spirit 
of  GOD  mould  direct,  to  be  moft  agreeable 
to  thofe  extraordinary,  to  thofe  pure  Doctrines 
on  which  its  Eflenfra&y  was  founded.  Which 
Commiffion  of  theirs  they  executed  wifely 
and  faithfully ;  in  diluting  and  appointing  fuch 
a  Miniflry,  as  neither  the  Violence  of  Per- 
fecutions,  nor  the  more  dangerous  Defigns  of 
pretended  Friends,  have  been  able  to  move 
from  its  ftable  Foundation  even  to  this  Day, 
no  nor  ever  (ball  be,  as  long  as  the  World 
endureth.  For  to  the  ApojUes  Succejfors  is 
the  Promife  of  our  Saviour  made :  Lo  I  am 
with  you  ahuay ,  even  unto  the  End  of  the  World. 
And  upon  this  Account  it  was,  that  who- 
ever 


ever  pretended  to  lay  a  Claim  to  any  Office 
in  the  Church,  without  being  able  to  make 
good  his  Authority,  by  Courfe  of  Succeffion 
from  the  vifible  Aci  of  thofe,  who  were  firft 
entrufted  with  it,  were  in  St.  'Jerome's  Days 
taken  for  Fanaticks ;  for  he  tells  us  that  there 
were  in  his  Time,  Perfons  that  took  for  Le- 
vites,  Fanaticks-  to  officiate  in  GOD'S  Worjhip  ; 
even  fuch  as  were  not  fent,  nor  call'd  as  was 
Aaron.  And  he  further  adds  in  his  Com- 
ments upon  Hofea,  that  they  were  Men 
Drunk,  but  not  with  Wine,  who  were  as 
unable  to  produce  a  reafonable  Plea  for  fo 
daring,  fo  prefumptuous  an  Action,  to  any 
that  mould  require  it  of  them,  as  to  mew 
by  what  Authority  they  preached,  having 
never  been  fent.  That  no  Man  ought  to 
'meddle  with  the  Execution  of  the  facred  Of- 
fices of  the  Miniftry,  without  an  immediate 
and  miraculous  Call  from  GOD  j  as  the  Apof- 
tles  and  firft  Teachers  of  Chriftianity  had;  or 
a  mediate,  an  ordinary  One  by  them  or  their 
lawful  SuccefTors,  to  fuch  an  Office  ;  is  evi- 
dent from  thefe  Words,  bow  (hall  they  preach, 
except  they  be  fent  ?  An  immediate  Call  from 
GOD  will,  I  doubt  not,  be  alledged  as  a  Rea- 
fon,  why  fo  many  Perfons  of  the  lower  Clafs 
have  in  thofe  few  Years  paft,  undertaken  the 
Work  of  the  Miniftry;  to  preach  the  Go/pel-, 
to  be  infiant  in  Seafon  and  out  of  Seafon,  without 
any  Ordination  from  thofe  that  have  a  lawful 

Authority 


Authority  to  conftitute,  and  fend  Labourers 
into  the  LORD'S  Vineyard. 

THAT  fome  have  been  too  forward  in  in~ 
truding  themfelves  into  the  Priefts  Office,  is 
very  notorious  under  the  Law,  but  more  ef- 
pecially  under  the  Gofpel  Difpenfation.  Even 
as  early  as  the  Apojlles  Days  this  Zeal  began  : 
For  we  find  St.  Paul  acquainting  Timothy, 
that  fome  were  defirous  of  being  Teachers, 
whofe  Capacities  but  barely  qualified  them  for 
the  loweft  Clafs  of  Hearers.  It  is  not  altoge- 
ther improbable,  that  the  Perfons  before  men- 
tioned had  heard  from  others,  the  great  Com- 
mendation of  his  Letters  ;  they  could  be  but 
ill  Judges  for  themfelves  j  and  having  feen 
him  powerfully  and  gracefully  haranguing 
his  Audience,  were  quite  captivated  with  the 
united  Charms  of  a  compleat  chrifHan  Ora- 
tor. Alarmed  by  the  Subject  Matter,  rouzed 
by  the  Energy  of  Expreffion,  and  inraptured 
with  the  Propriety  of  his  Action,  they  were 
violently  hurried  into  the  moft  paflionate 
Longing  for  the  fame  Office ;  without  a  pre- 
vious Confideration  of  their  Incapacity,  or  of 
that  middle  Wall  of  Partition,  placed  by  GOD 
between  the  Minifters  and  Hearers  of  his 
holy  Word ;  which  muft  neither  be  thrown 
down,  nor  broken  through.  The  Apoflle 
frankly  owns  the  Opinion,  which  his  Ap- 
pearance amongft  a  polite  and  learned  People, 
had  made  them  entertain  of  him  j  and  as  he 

neither 


['3] 

neither  blames  them  for  their  Remark,  nor 
attempts  to  palliate  it  by  an  Excufe,  we  may 
conclude  that  it  was  juft.  His  Letter -j,  fay 
they,  are  weighty  and  powerful,  but  his  bodily 
Prefence  is  weak  and  bafe,  and  his  Speech  con- 
temptible. In  the  following  Verfe  he  feems  to 
promife  Amendment,  and  aflures  them  that 
for  the  future,  fuch  as  he  was  in  Word  by 
Letters,  when  *abfent,  fuch  would  he  be  alfo 
in  Deed  when  prefent.  When  the  Imper- 
fections of  Nature  were  expelled ;  when  the 
contracted  ones  of  Habit  and  Education  were 
mafter'd  and  laid  afide  5  when  the  Lineaments 
of  his  Face  were  taught  to  be  ftrongly  ex- 

'  preffive  of  the  real  Emotions  of  the  Soul-, 
when  the  Rudenefs  of  his  Speech  had  received 
the  higheft  PoliJJo  and  Refinement  of  Art ;  and 

'  the  Languidnefs  of  his  natural  Prefence,  had 
been  changed  into  a  Vigour,  like  unto  his 
Zeal  and  adequate  to  his  Knowledge ;  and 
when  the  Word  of  his  LORD  and  Saviour 
was  his  Subject-,  what  Imprefjions  muft  he 
not  have  made  ?  But  the  Misfortune  was, 
that  too  many  of  the  mofl  Ignorant,  made  a 
wrong  Ufe  of  thofe  Impreffions.  They  were 
fired  with  a  Zeal,  not  of  turning  to  GOD  by 
Faith  and  Repentance ;  or  of  bringing  forth 
Fruits  meet  for  Repentance  j  but  for  turning 
afide  into  the  Miniftry.  And  would  gladly, 
without  Doubt,  have  turned  out,  or  elbowed 
others,  however  meet  or  appointed,  to  make 
Room  enough  for  themfelves.  The  Gifts  of 

the 


I4 

the  Spirit  are  more  earneflly  coveted  by  ig- 
norant and  foolim  Perfons,  than  the  Fruits ; 
and  to  fpeak  'with  the  Tongues  of  Men  and 
Angels  is  prefered  to  Chanty  ;  tho'  we  are  in- 
fallibly allured,  that  Charity  is  the  more  ex- 
cellent. It  is  no  Wonder,  if  ignorant  Perfons, 
who  are  always  taken  with  external  and  out- 
fide  Shews,  having  feen  the  unwearied  Zeal, 
the  elegant  Addrefs,  the  Gentleman  blendrd 
with  the  Scholar,  the  Harmony  of  the  Voice, 
the  Maje/ly  of  the  Action,  and  all  heigh  ten 'd 
by  the  moft  exacl:  Correfpondency  of  the  Coun- 
tenance, preferred  thefe  to  the  no  iefs  refplen- 
dent,  but  more  invaluable  Jewel,  the  purefl 
Satjfity  of  Life  and  Manners.  Human  Na- 
ture is  flill  the  fame,  and  the  fame  Cauies 
will  produce  the  fame  Effeds  that  they  did 
1700  Years  ago.  That  after  fo  long  and 
great  a  Darknefs,  an  almoft  total  Eclipfe  -,  fo 
many  bright  Luminaries  in  Religion  mould 
fuddenly  make  their  Appearance  in  our 
Hemifphere,  and  come,  like  Mujhrooms,  fo 
foon  to  their  perfe'dt  Maturity,  may  be  a 
My/lery  to  the  mofl  deplorably  Ignorant ;  but 
others  know,  that  they  were  all  kindled  from 
the  fame  burning  Comet. 

I  DON'T  blame  you  for  endeavouring  to 
iilence  even  now,  but  think  you  are  quite  too 
late, — that  many  headed  H\dra,  which  you 
muft  be  confcious,  received  its  Birth  from  your 
Example,  and  following  the  fame,  is  now 

holding 


holding  forth  its  Preachments,  to  the  great 
Scandal  of  Religion,  and  the  Clergy  of  the 
efioblijbcd  Church. 

— —  Mala  per  longas  convaluere  Moras. 

THE  Apojlle  took  Care  to  crufh  the 
Cockatrice  in  the  Egg:  And  undoubtedly 
gave  Timothy  the  forementioned  Information, 
to  this  very  End,  that  he  fhould  take  fpecial 
Care  in  ordaining  Minifters  of  the  Gofpel,  to 
reject  all  ignorant,  tho'  zealous  Candidates'. 

I  THINK  I  fee  plainly,  perhaps  I  fee  too 
much,  that  you  have  feledted  the  "  dull^ 
heavy,  blockifh  Minifters  of  all  Great-Britain 
and  Ireland,  for  other  Purpofes  than  their  be- 
ing the  yefl  of  every  pert  Fool,  every  lively, 
airy  Coxcomb  they  meet."  To  be  plain,  as 
Men  of  (hallow  Pates,  have  commonly  the 
ftrongeft  Backs,  you  are  lathing,  as  I  appre- 
hend, your  late  Subalterns,  fuch  as  have,  or 
maybe  Hill  falling  off  your  Service,  over  their 
Shoulders.  It  is  true,  at  firft  planting  a  T'wig 
is  exceeding  pliant,  nothing  more  fo  ;  but  it 
you  once  fuffer  it  to  take  deep  Root,  you  may 
make  the  Attempt ;  but  will  never  afterwards 
find  it  to  bend  fo  well,  as  for  its  own  Service. 
You  may  now///?  up  your  Voice  like  a  Trumpet, 
from  the  Metropolis  of  this  Kingdom,  to  the 
remoteft  Parts  of  it,  and  found  a  Retreat; — 
all  as  you  were  Gentlemen, — You  to  yrur 

Ref- 


Refpective  Troop — you  to  your  Board and 

you  to  your  old  trade  of  Bajket-making ;  but 
who  will  regard  it  ?  They  are  got  quite  Head- 
ftrong.  And  mould  you  found  another  Alarm, 
and  tell  them  plainly,  that  it  appertained!  not 
unto  them  to  be  Interpreters  of  the  Myfteries 
of  the  Gofpely  it  would   prove  altogether  as 
unfuccefsful  as  the  firft.    Should  you  thunder 
out  your  Anathemas,  your  lafl  Referve,   and 
threaten  them  with  eternal  Damnation  upon 
non  Complyance,    you  would  certainly  find 
them  to  a  Man,  as  others  have  done,  letting 
up  each   for   himfelf.      Your  military  Man 
would  deferve  to  be  pofted  for  a  cowardly 
Daftard,  if  he  fcrupled  either  to  die  in  the 
Attack,  or  carry  your  Ajjembly- Room  Sword  in 
Hand,  provided  there  was  no  other  Place  left 
to  pleafe  him.     Your  Decree  of  a  Point  be 
tween  Br-th-r  and  S-n-x,  in  Favour  of  the 
former,  was  looked  upon  as  quite  arbitrary, 
and  loft  you  the  latter: .Had  you  decreed  in 
Favour  of  the  latter,  you  had  loft  the  former: 
Of  two  Evils,  it  was  confefled,  you  prudently 
chofe  by  far  the  leaft.     If  you  can  expect  no 
more  Reverence  or  Obedience  from  fuch  as 
you  have  been  a  Nurjing- Father  to,  and  car- 
ried in  your  Bofom,  you  have   certainly  taken 
the  moft    effectual    Method    to  difguft   the 
whole  Body  of  the  Clergy. 

THERE  are  many  Lay-Men  of  great  Repu- 
tation for  Learning   and  Prudence,  that  don't 

ftick 


t  '7  ] 

ilick  to  inveigh  againft  the  Arch-Deacon^ 
who  prefume  to  give  a  Charge  to  their  Bre- 
thren 5  and  I  have  often  Times  heard  it  called 
an  intolerable  Ufurpation  over  the  Clergy-. 
How  then  will  this  your  Addrefs,  or  pafio- 
ral  Letter,  appear  to  the  difcerning  Laity  ^ 
or  Clergy  ?  If  you  would  effectually  ftrike  at 
Religion^  bring  the  Clergy  into  Contempt,  and 
the  "Thing  is  done. — Many  Clergymen,  when 
they  are  oblig'd  to  travel,  choofe  to  be  incog-. 
rather  than  be  infuited  by  every  boifterous 
Calf.  But  you  have  (hewn  their  weak  Side; 
A  hard  Word  or  two  will  reduce  them  td 
Silence  and  greater  Contempt.  But  let  me 
here  enter  a  Caveat  in  due  Time  againft  the 
indeterminate  Abracadabra^  and  the  Welch 
tongue  ;  or  we  mall  lie  at  the  Mercy  of  every 
A/s,  that  mail  be  able  to  pronounce  a  Word 
or  two  of  it  only.  Muft  I  refrefh  your  Me- 
mory? You  certainly  know,  or  have  heard, 
that  a  too  common  Form  of  Salutation  to  a 
Clergyman,  at  his  Entrance  into  a  Room;  iSj 
G — d  d — mn  you,  Dodtor,  how  do  you  do  ? 
but  hold — I  muft  not  iwear,  here's  a  Clergy- 
man in  Company^ 

*c  You  do  not  fpeak,  you  fayy  from  a  Spirit 
of  Anger  and  Rejentment.  You  know  well  the 
Wrath  of  Man  worketb  not  the  Righteoufnefs  of 
GOD.  Much  lefs  wou'd  you  utter  one  Word 
out  of  Contempt ;  a  Spirit  juftly  abhorr'd  by 
GOD  and  Man.  Neither  of  thefe  can  confifl 
G  with 


;: •::,•      c  >8 

with  the  earneft,  tender  Love,  which  is  the 
Motive  of  your  prefent  Undertaking."  I  am 
afraid,  you  will  hardly  find  any  Clergyman  in 
England  or  Ireland To  "  dull,  heavy,  or  block- 
im"  as  not  to  perceive  the  Irreconcileablenefs 
of  thefe  mild  Expreflions,  with  the  harfher 
Contents  of  Page  the  i6th  and  I7thof  your  Per- 
formance. '  But  how  comes  it  to  pafs,  that  the 
Clergy  of  the  ettabltfb'd  Church  have  no  Refpeft 
from  your  Followers,  from  fuch  of  them  efpe- 
cially,  as  are  fo  remarkably  Hood-wink'd,  that 
they  would  certainly  follow  whither  foever  you 
fhould  be  pleas'd  to  lead  them  j  and  implicitly 
believe  whatfoever  you  fhould  advance?  Are 
the  Prayers  read  feldomer  in  our  Churches  than 
formerly  ?  Are  Sermons  lefs  frequent  ?  Are 
the  Mintfters  lefs  capable,  or  lefs  diligent  in 
performing  their  Duty  ?  The  contrary  in 
many  Refpecls  is  evident.  The  reviving  of 
the  late  truly  pious  and  charitable  Mr.  Col- 
Jions  Leftures,  and  preaching  them  gratis, 
does  the  Clergy  of  this  City  a  peculiar  Honour. 
What  can  be  affign'd  for  fo  remarkable  an 
Ebb  in  the  Tide  of  their  jjjfegtionst  Ever 
iince  you,  Sir,  as  a  principal  Agitator >  lent 
a  Hand  to  puddle  the  Fountains ,  they  have 
delighted  in  troubled  Waters.  Before  that  fa- 
tal Time  the  Current  glided  on  fmoothly, 
calmly,  delightfully  ;  but  now  in  a  rapid  and 
turbulent  Stream.  Some  that  would  al- 
moft  have  been  contented,  even  to  pluck  out 
their  own  Eyes,  to  give  them  to  their  Paftors, 

will 


[  '9  ] 

will  now  as  readily  ftigmatize  them  as  blind 
Leaders.  I  was  told  by  an  Eye-Witnefs,  with 
a  great  Deal  of  Concern,  what  a  Shocking 
Affront  was  put  on  a  late  moft  worthy  Bijhop 
of  this  Dioceje.  Your  Followers  were  flock'd 
together  in  great  Numbers  to  hear  the  Rev. 

Mr. ,  whofe  Turn  it  was  to  preach  at 

the  College ;  but  on  his  Lordflrips  mounting 
the  Roftrum,  they  left  the  Church  with  grumb- 
ling, and  as  great  Precipitation,  as  tho'  his 
Sermon  would  have  actually  poifon'd  them, 
or  the  whole  Fabrick  had  been  falling  about 
their  Ears.  Whether  this  great  Alteration 
in  Behaviour,  be  the  Effect  of  direct  or  indirect 
Teaching,  as  it  was  unquestionably  learnt  in 
your  Schools,  the  Clergy  are  equally  oblig'd 
to  you  for  it ;  and  if  thofe  Epithets,  which 
you  fo  generoufly  have  difpers'd  abroad,  be  as 
liberally  given  to  the  Clergy  in  general,  with 
the  Addition  of  others,  they  know  whom  to 
thank  for  the  Donation.  What  a  Noife  had 
we  about  Religion  ?  what  inceffant  feeking 
and  praying  to  the  LORD,  that  he  would  be 
pleas'd  to  reveal  his  Will?  whilft  the  Sons  of 
Belial  were  undermining  the  Church  and 
Sfate,  and  unnatural  Subjects  were  moft  cruel- 
ly confpiring  againft  the  Life  of  GOD'S  Anoint- 
ed',  our  then  moft  gracious  Sovereign,  Charles 
the  Firft.  Great  was  the  Company  of  Prea- 
chers. Like  the  Frogs  in  Egypt  they  filled 
the  Houfes  j  and  like  the  Locufts  took  Pof- 
tcfiion  of  the  Fields.  The  Colonels  and 
C  2  the 


[20] 

the  Captains,  the  Drummers  and  private 
Centinels  of  the  Soldiery,  moft  audacioufly 
became  the  Trumpeters  of  the  Gofpel  \ 
they  effectually  pav'd  the  Way  with  their 
Tongues  for  their  bwords,  arid  prevail' d 
more  with  the  former,  than  the  latter. 
"  Five  Rabble- charming  Words,  fays  a  Di- 
vine of  great  Note,  did  all  the  Mifchief. 

The  Godlinefs  that  was  then  in  Vogue  turned 

"Religion  quite  out  of  Doors.- A  lawful  Mi- 

nifter  could  hardly  walk  the  Streets,  without 
being  fpit  in  the  Face.  I  have  liv'd,  fays  an- 
other, to  fee  Religion  painted  on  Banners,  and 
thruft  out  of  Churches. — The  People  are  fal- 
len under  the  Harrows  and  Saws  of  idle  and 
impertinent  Preachers,  who  think  all  Reli- 
gion is  a  Sermon.  And  he  avers  that  a  plain 
Catechifm  can  more  inftruct  a  Soul,  than  the 
whole  Day's  Prate  which  fome  daily  Jpit 
forth,  to  bid  get  CHRIST,  and  perfecute  his 
Servants"  The  woeful  Effedts  of  all  this  Hy- 
pocrify  and  Grimace,  are  too  well  known,  and 
too  feverely  felt  at  this  Time,  to  need  Am- 
plification. The  Tares  which  Satan,  by  his 
wicked  Agents  in  this  Confulion,  as  the  moft 
proper  Seafon,  fowed  amongft  the  Wheat  -, 
will  never,  in  all  Probability,  be  rooted  out, 
'till  the  general  Harveft,  the  End  and  DtJ/o- 
lution  of  all  Things. 

I  WILL  not  endeavour  to   fet  the  Govern- 
yitnt  againft  you,  by  publishing  the  Fears  and 

Jeahufies 


[21] 

yealoujies,  which  many  have  long  fince  enter~ 
tain'd  of  you  j  or  the  Increafe  of  them  by  the 
prefent  Situation  of  our  Affairs  :  But  let  me 
tell  you  in  plain  Terms,  that  neither  you  nor 
J,  have  any  the  leaft  Reafon  to  boafl  of  the 
Growth  of  Piety ;  but  rather  the  greater!  to  la- 
ment the  Decay  of  it  amongft  us.  If  you  fay, 
behold  our  Numbers  -,  you  know  very  well  by 
how  flender  a  Clue  they  are  led,  and  by  how 
much  weaker  they  are  tack'd  and  held  toge- 
ther. Ceafe  that  almoft  inceffant  Click-Clack 
amongll  you  ;  that  political  Rattle  of  yours 
to  pleafe  Children  ;  confine  them  to  the  more 
important  Duty  of  Prayer  only,  and  the  Con- 
fequence  will  foon  appear.  Come,  come, 
Hugh  Peters^  that  arch  High-Priefl  to  the 
Arch -Rebel  Cromwell,  knew  the  Force  of 
Oratory  or  Cant  full  as  well  as  any  Man  ever 
did,  or  will.  The  Heur-Glafs  being  quite 
fpent  before  his  long-fpunn'd  Difcourfe\  he 
very  humouroufly  turning  it  upfide-down, 
adds,  come  my  Brethren,  let  us  take  the 
other  Glafs.  I  am  fure  of  this,  that  fome 
Churches  throng'd  at  a  Sermon ,  are  moft  mame- 
fully  empty  at  Prayers  only.  The  EngHJh 
People  are  obferv'd  to  be  great  Lovers  of 
Oratory ;  but  furely  they  are  too  paffionately 
fond  of  it,  that  prefer  a  Difcourfe  from  the 
moft  learned  Divine,  to  the  Performance  of 
their  own  Duty  ;  and  that  reckon  no  Sermon, 
no  Service.  Was  I  allow'd  to  be  the  belt 
Preacher  in  England,  I  wou'd  facrifice  my  Re- 
putation 


putation  in  this  with  Pleafure  ;  and  be  content 
as  a  Reader  only  to  any  Congregation,  that 
would  (hew  an  equal,  or  a  greater  Rea- 
dinefs  to  attend  the  Prayers,  than  the  Sermon 
in  the  Church. 

You  have  another  Advantage  over  us, 
which  is  very  taking  with,  and  attractive  of 
many  People  ;  and  that  is  extempore  Prayer. 
A  little  Novelty  is  well  pleafmg  to  moft,  but 
more  efpecially  to  the  Vulgar.  A  Fricajy  or 
a  mini  d  Pye  may  pleafe  fqueamim  Stomachs, 
better  than  a  good  Piece  of  Beefy  but  I  hope 
the  latter,  as  well  as  our  moft  excellent  Li- 
turgy, will  remain  two  ftanding  Dijhes,  ne- 
never  out  of  Fafhion  in  thefe  Dominions. 
It  was  an  old  Complaint  of  a  Divine,  there 
is  no  Enquiry  whether  there  are  to  be  Pray- 
ers, but  whether  there  is  to  be  Sermon,  ^ueen 
Elizabeth,  that  wife  Princefs,  never  heard 
Sermons  but  in  Lent,  affirming  that  me  could 
.then  lay  in  fufficient  Stock  for  a  whole  twelve 
Months  Practice.  It  was  wifely  forefeen  by 
a  certain  great  Perfonage,  that  hearing  would 
foon  get  the  Afcendant  over  the  Praclice  of 
our  Duty  j  he  therefore  gave  it  the  mean  Ap- 
pellation of  Pulpeting. 

You  had  feveral  Reafons,  I  apprehend,  for 
fending  your  pa/ioral  Letter  to  this  City.  The 
See  having  been  for  a  longer  Time  than  ufual 
vacant,  there  may  poffibly  be  a  ftrict  Enquiry 

about 


about  as  worthy  a  Succeffor :  His  late  Lordfhip 
having  been  univerfally  acknowledged  an  ex- 
cellent Divine,  as  well  as  Logician.  Seafon- 
ably  therefore,  highly  fo,  did  this  Difplay  of 
your  Talents  mine  forth  at  this  great  Crifis. 
His  Lordfiip  got  his  firft,  purely  by  his  Merit ; 
and  his  laft  Preferment  was  owing  to  the  lame. 
As  you  have  given  the  plaineft  Indication,  that 
you  "  can  reduce  an  indirect  to  a  direct 
Mood;  an  Hypothetic  to  a  Categorical  Syl- 
logifm,  as  eafily  as  turn  your  Hand  j  can 
read  into  Englim  one  of  Davids  Pfalms,  or 
even  the  firft  Chap,  of  Genefisf  in  a  Word, 
are  Mafter  of  the  whole  Circle  of  Sciences ; 
if  Merit  be  the  only  Thing  wanting,  furely 
you  are  a  fair  Candidate ;  and  ftand  a  good 
Chance  for  fo  honourable  an  Employment. 
The  Sample  you  have  offered  to  the  Publick, 
evidently  demonstrates,  that  you  are  not  to 
feek,  or  learn  your  Duty  in  the  higheft  Station 
of  the  Church  -,  but  can  and  will  enforce  the 
fame,  by  reproving,  rebuking^  and  exhorting 
with  all  Long- fujj'er ing  and  Doftrine. 

BESIDES,  I  think  thofe  Extraordinaries, 
for  which  you  are  fo  much  celebrated  and  re- 
nown'd,  were  exhibited  to  the  Publick  firft 
of  all  in  this  City,  as  the  following  examin'd 
Copy  of  an  Original  plainly  (hews ;  this  City 
therefore  deferves  the  higheft  Token  of  your 
fincerefl  Love  and  Affection. 


C  24] 

Being  poftively  the  loft  fime  of  Acting, 

For  the  BENEFIT  of  the  AUTHOR, 
By  Mr.  W--f—ld's  Company  of  Tragi-ComedianSj 

At  the  NEW  THEATRE  in  BALDWIN-STREET^ 
This  prefent  Evening  'will  be  prefented,  a  Pious  Farce,  calfd 

THE    ENTHUSIAST: 

Or  SPIRITUAL  MOUNTEBANK. 

The  Part  of  the  Entbufiaft  by  Mr.  W—  F—  LD, 
Regeneratio,   by  Mr.  J.  W  —  SL  —  Y,  (being  the  firjl  Time 

of  bis  appearing  upon  the  Stage, 
Don  Terribello  de  Damnato  by  Mr.  H—  CH  —  NS, 

Don  Difmallo  de  Tonforio,  by  Mr   M  -CH--L, 

Don   ColleQerio   de   Ptlfero,   by    Mr.    W  —  tL  —  Sj 

The  GhofLof  Hugh  Peters,  by  Mr.  W--TH--N. 

WOMEN. 

Sighogroniffa,  by  Mrs.  GR  —  v  —  LE, 

Confitenda,  by  Mifs  C  —  TL  —  R, 
The  Widow  Lackit,  by  Mrs.  P  —  NN  —  u. 


To  which  will  be  introduced, 

The  HUMOURS  of  'Squire  NOODLE, 
And  the  Two  RELIGIOUS  COBLERS. 

''Squire  Noodle,  by  Mr.  S  —  w  —  D, 

Clifierpipero,  the  Anabaptift  Teacher,  by  Mr.  F  —  SK  —  T, 
Taffy,  his  Servant,  by  Mr.  Ev  —  NS, 

Midwife,  by  Mrs.  N  —  RM  —  N. 

Rabble.     Coblers^    Colliers,    Whores,    Pickpockets,    Analaptijli, 
Quakers,  Prejbyterians,  Cameronianf,  Muggletoniaus,  dtbiejls. 

There  will  be  Singing,  and  a  Chorus  of  Sighs  and  Groans. 
The  MUSICK  by  a  SAVOYARD. 

N.  B.  That  Primitive  Jigg,  commonly  knovin  by  the  Name  »f 
ADAMS'S  Jigg,  will  be  danced  by  federal  behind  the  Scenes. 

To  begin  at  Seven  o'Clock  precifely. 


IT  pleafed  GOD,  by  a  fevere  Froft,  in  the 
Year  1740,  to  cut  fhort  the  Staff  of  our 
Bread:  And  all  the  NecefTaries  of  Life  were 
at  an  exceffive  high  Price.  The  Matters  in 
this  City,  greatly  to  their  Praife,  allowed  and 
encouraged  their  Labourers  to  work  an  ex- 
traordinary Quarter  each  Day,  for  the  better 
Subfiftance  of  themfelves  and  Families.  Was 
it  unreafonable  in  a  Hufband  to  expect,  that  a 
Wife,  joined  by  the  ftricteft  Ties  of  Duty, 
mould  alfo  at  fuch  a  hard  Time,  join  in  La- 
bour and  Endeavours  ?  Your  Zeal  at  that 
tfime  to  attract  and  allure  the  infatuated  Mul- 
titude^ was  not  the  lead  abated.  The  Itch 
of  hearing  kept  equal  Pace  with  the  Itch  of 
teaching.  Your  Room  was  rilled  with  a  mod 
wretched  Crew,  the  Cloathing  of  many 
hardly  affording  a  decent  Covering,  or  fuffi- 
cient  Warmth  for  their  Bodies.  If  the  Ap- 
pearance in  publick  was  fo  mocking  and  dif- 
graceful  to  a  Chriftian  Nation,  what  a  horrid 
Scene  would  an  Inspection  into  their  Houfes 
have  difplayed  ?  you  had  feen  Children  foak- 
ing  in  their  own  Pifs,  and  wallowing  in  their 
Dung;  the  moft  certain  Method  to  induce 
Weaknefs,  Diforders,  and  Death.  You  had 
heard  them  moft  loudly  and  lamentably  cry- 
ing, pinched  with  Hunger,  benumbed  with 
Cold :  And  happy  were  they  who  cried  them- 
felves from  fuch  mercilefs  Mothers,  into  the 
kmderEmbraces  of  their  Mother  Earth.  Whilft 
the  nauseous  Sty,  and  every  Thing  within 
it,  moft  mamefully  flood  in  Need  of  Clean- 
D  linefs 


C  26  ] 

linefs  and  Labour  -,  all  that  has  been  re- 
prefented,  and  much  more  that  may  be  ad- 
ded, was  unable  to  balance,  much  lefs  weigh 
down  the  unreafonable  Longings  of  an  itch- 
ing Ear. 

The  Hulbands  loudly  repeated,  ye  are  idle, 
ye  are  idle ;  but  were  as  often  anfwer'd  with, 
we  muft  ferve  the  LORD,  and  fave  our  Souls. 
When  urged  with  that  plain  Text  of  Holy 
Scripture,  he  that  provide th  not  for  his  own, 
efpeclally  thofe  of  his  oivn  Houfoold,  hath  de- 
nied the  Faith i  and  is  ivorje  than  an  Infidel ; 
they  cou'd  reply  with  fome  ct  Livelinefs  and 
Readinefs"  of  Thought,  fee  k  ye  jirjt  the  King- 
dom of  GOD,  and  his  Righteou/nefs,  and  all 
thefe  Things  (hall  be  added  unto  you.  Some 
of  thofe  precious  Jewels,  the  Wives,  after 
private  Admonitions,  were  publickly  repri- 
manded, and  feverely  threaten'd  by  their 
Hufbands ;  and  a  few  refractory  ones  by  a  fe- 
verer  Method  reduc'd  to  their  Duty. 

THERE  is  an  Argument,  which  tho'  never 
produc'd  by  the  Schoolmen,  yet  neither  theys 
you,  nor  I,  can  devife  a  better,  when 
wilful  Blindnefs%  and  Perverfenefs  are  to 
be  contended  with  and  mafter'd.  It  has  all 
the  Properties  of  a  Noun  Subftantive,  to  be 
Jeen,  felt,  heard,  and  underflood;  is  called  by 
the  Learned,  Argumentum  batfinum ;  by  the 
Colliers,  a  Chaice  Hally-Wand  \  and  is  feldorn 
or  never  in  the  foregoing  Cafes  well  apply'd 

but 


but  with  Succefs.  Mr.  $ — n — #,  once  in  the 
HorJe-F&r,  felt  the  Weight  of  it,  and  was  fo 
well  convinc'd  of  its  Efficacy -y  that  I  am  mi- 
flaken,  if  ever  He  leads  about  again  as  a  Sifte r, 
the  Wife  of  another  Man,  for  her  Edification 
and  Inftruftion  in  Righteoufnefs  and  true  Ho- 
linefsj  for  a  fingle  Week  j  much  lefs  for  fix 
Weeks  together.  Was  there  a  Remiffion  of 
your  Peter 's  Pence,  your  Capitation  Fax, 
during  this  intenfely  cold  and  ftarving  Sea- 
fon  ?  I  never  heard,  but  that  your  Exac- 
tionSj  or  modeftly  ftiled  Contributions,  were 
even  then,  as  at  all  other  Times,  moft  punc- 
tually payed.  It  would  have  been  deemed 
quite  unchriftian  to  have  not  done  it ;  he 
would  undoubtedly  have  been  efteemed  worfq 
than  a  heathen  Man  or  a  Publican,  that  would 
not  have  fpared,  or  even  drawn  fo  trifling  a 
Sum  from  his  very  Bowels. 

GOD  Almighty,  the  LORD  of  our  Time, 
has  been  gracioufly  pleafed  to  referve  the  7th 
Day  for  his  Worihip ;  but  you  moil  uncon- 
fcionably  pinched  away  one  out  of  the  re- 
maining Six.  This  is  a  heavy  Charge  I  rea- 
dily grant,  but  it  is  moft  certainly  true.  It 
would  be  deemed  a  Difparagement  to  your 
Morning  and  Evening  Soul-edifying  Lectures, 
with  their  Appurtenances,  fhould  we  fuppofe 
that  lefs  than  an  Hour  at  a  Time  can  be  Ipent 
in  your  Room,  in  their  Performance.  Add  to 
this  the  Time  loft  in  coming  and  going ;  (for 
D  2  many 


*8  J 

many  of  your  Hearers  liv'd  at  a  great  Diltance) 
in  waiting  for  the  Beginning  of  your  Opera- 
tions ;  the  great  Zeal  and  Forwardnefs  in  your 
Door-keepers,  the  remarkable  ones  for  always 
appearing  with  the  firft  and  difappearing  with 
the  laft  ;  and  you  have  a  clear  Demonftration 
of  the  Truth,  q.  e.  d. 

HAD  you,  conforming  to  the  Order  of  our 
Church,  began  with  a  proper  Sentence  of  holy 
Scripture,  and  the  Exhortation ;  had  you 
added  the  Con&ffion,  the  LORD'S  Prayer,  ge- 
neral Thankfgiving ;  and  immediately  dif- 
miffed  them  to  the  refpective  Bufinefs  of  their. 
Callings,  or  the  Care  of  their  Families,  with 
the  Bleflingj  this  Method  indeed  had  been  a 
tetter  and  more  becoming ;  but  then  as  you 
well  forefaw  and  fore-knew,  would  foon  have 
brought  your  Addrefs  to,—"  dearly  be- 
loved Roger'  only. 

I  AM  entirely  of  Opinion  with  you,  that 
the  Blockheaded  Boys  will  by  no  Means  do 
well  enough  for  Parfons ;  but  then  \  en- 
tirely difapprove  of  your  turning  them  over, 
either  to  the  Phyjiciam  or  Lawyers.  They 
may  indeed,  (an  Eftate  may  defcend  to  them) 
"ride  in  a  Coach  or  gilt  Chariot-"  or  being 
confcious  they  are  in  no  Likelihood  of  ac- 
quiring them,  they  may  put  a  bold  Face  upon 
the  Matter,  and  by  marrying  rich  Widows  be 
enabled  to  keep  them.  Perhaps  upon  fecond 

Thoughts 


29 

Thoughts,  You  may  approve  of  the  follow- 
ing Amendment.  Let  the  Blockhead,  you 
propofe  as  a  Pleader  at  the  Bar,  be  made  a 
Cryer  of  the  Court.  A  good  Pair  of  Lungs, 
and  a  ftrong  clear  Voice,  may  effectually  cry 
him  up  in  that  Poft  5  but  will  moft  inevita- 
bly, without  other  Qualifications,  foon  cry 
him  down  at  the  Bar  of  the  Court.  Let  the 
Blockhead  you  delign  for  a  Phyjician  be  ap- 
prentic'd  to  a  Butcher.  A  moft  injudicious 
Feeler  of  the  Pulfe  may  foon  learn  to  feel  out 
with  a  fingle  Ftngert  the  exact  Place  for  ftab- 
bing  a  Sheep  in  the  throat  -,  and  may  very 
fuccefsfully  {laughter  Beafts  :  But  would  you 
turn  loofe  fuch  a  mercilefs  Butcher  amongft 
Mankind  ?  I  am  perfuaded  that  no  Parents 
will  thank  you  for,  much  lefs  follow  this 
notable  Piece  of  Advice  of  yours :  Knaves  may 
and  do  thrive,  admirably  in  the  former  Profef- 
fion ;  Fools  never  :  The  wife  and  the  learned 
may  fucceed  in  the  latter  Profefiion,  whilft 
the  ignorant  and  injudicious  ftarve. 

You  may  with  the  greatefl  Reafon  heartily 
wi{h,that  you  never  fall  into  the  Hands  of  ei- 
ther. You  cannot  after  what  has  been  ad- 
vanced, prudently  trull  either  your  Perfon, 
or  your  Caufe  in  the  Hands  of  the  Gentlemen 
of  either  Profeffion.  Doctor  Ignoramus  may 
eafily  convince  all  Men,  that  he  is  fufficiently 
flailed  to  difpatchfuchan  opinionated Perjbn  out 
of  the  World  }fecu?idum  Arteni;  and  the  Law- 
yer 


-  [3o] 

yer  may  artfully  excufe  his  lofing  your  Caufc, 
by  alledging  it  to  be  your  own  Fault,  for  com- 
mitting its  Care  and  Management  to  a  Block- 
head. The  Lawyers  may  excufe  you,  and  be 
content  with  laughing  at  the  Affertion  j  but  if  a 
Phyfician  mould  take  a  proper  Opportunity  of 
publickly  feeling  your  Puffs  gratis  j  by  flrongly 
grafping  your  Wrift,  and  kicking  your  Back- 
iide  q.  s.  to  the  rectifying  your  Error  j  no  one, 
except  yourfelf,  will  think  him  a  Blockhead 
for  fo  doing. 

i  •:$< 

BUT  however  you  efcape,  the  Clergy  of 
the  ertablimed'  Church,  I  fear,  will  be  left  in 
the  Lurch.  For  unlefs  the  Gentlemen  of 
thofe  Profeffions  will  be  fo  candid,  as  to  over- 
look and  pardon  it  j  as  fpoken  by  one,  bro- 
ken out  of  Pale,  and  a  Strayer ;  weakly,  if 
at  all  connected  with  the  main  Body  ; 
it  is  in  their  Power,  as  to  relent,  fo  to 
retaliate  it  upon  us.  Are  you  ignorant  that 
the  Determinations  at  Law,  have  for  a 
long  Time,  remarkably  ended  not  in  our 
Favour?  Muft  I  remind  you  of  that  open 
Declaration,  and  fmart  Anfwer  return'd  to 
it  ?  <c  I  think  we  have  now  pretty  well  got 
rid  of  thofe  Fellows  the  Parfom ;  yes,  my 
Lord,  and  the  Bufmefs  of  the  Court  too." 
That  antient  and  generous  Cuftom  for  a  Phy- 
ikian  to  refufe  a  Fee  for  his  Advice  from  a 
Clergyman,  has  been  growing  out  of  Fafhion 
pretty  much  of  late ;  and  (hould  it  become 

quite 


quite  obfolete,  what  Blockhead  fhall  we  blame 
for  it,  the  Phyfician  or  Tourfelf?  Can  we  for 
the  future  expedl  to  fave  our  Credit ',  and  our 
Money  too  ?  or  rather  will  it  not  be  pocketted 
with, 

Quis  niji  Mentis  inops  oblatum  refpuet  Aurum  ? 

As  to  Learning,  you  muft  know,  and  have 
obferv'd  from  a  School-Boy,  that  the  Capa- 
cities of  fome  differ  from  thofe  of  others  as 
much  as  their  Features.  Some  have  a  natu- 
ral Antipathy  to  this  or  that  particular  Branch^ 
and  mine  as  confpicuouily  in  others.  A  re- 
markable Inftance  of  this  Kind  occurs  to 
my  Memory.  A  young  Student  having  been 
impos'd,  by  a  celebrated  Mathematical  Lec- 
turer, for  Deficiency  ;  in  a  few  Days  after> 
received  a  moft  heavy  Impofition,  from  the 
'fore-mention'd  Gentleman,  for  the  fame 
Thing.  The  Student  foon  waited  upon  the 
Lecturer,  with  his  firft  Impofition  ;  which 
being  perus'd  with  great  Attention  by  him, 
he  aiks  the  young  Gentleman  if  it  was  his 
own  Performance  ?  to  which  being  anfwer'd 
in  the  Affirmative,  he  defir'd  the  Student  to 
fit  down,  and  examin'd  him  in  the  ftricteft 
Manner ;  'till  being  fully  fatisfied,  he  not  on- 
ly excus'd  the  heavy  Tajk^  but  thank'd  him. 
It  was  the  general  Opinion  that  this  moft  pro- 
found Mathematician,  never  fo  much  as  once 
dreamt  before  that  Hour,  that  it  was  poflible 

for 


[32] 

for  any  Scholar  to  arrive  at  a  Perfection  in 
any  Branch,  without  being  Matter  of  Mathe- 
matical Learning.  My  Fellow-Collegian  (fuch 
he  was)  is  now  refident  upon  a  Living  -,  and 
as  the  Bifhop  that  ordain'd  him,  thought 
him  well  qualified  in  Refpect  of  his  Learn- 
ing ;  it  is  with  Pleafure  I  hear  he  employs 
it  to  the  ivell-pleajing  of  his  Parifhioners, 
to  their  Edification  and  Comfort.  As  it  is 
frequently  feen  in  tfrade,  that  a  young  Lad 
having  his  Inclinations  crofs'd,  turns  out 
good  for  Nothing;  fo  in  Learning,  a  Pupil 
having  his  Genius  thwarted,  remains  quite 
ignorant.  As  the  Beauty  of  the  Mind,  fre- 
quently more  than  compenfates  for  the  Defor- 
mity of  the  Body ;  fo  a  Perfection  in  any  (in- 
gle Science,  balances  the  Incapacity  of  acquir- 
ing the  others.  Who  would  not  prefer  the 
Ability,  of  playing  upon  the  Violin  only,  to 

the  Admiration  of  all,  than  with  the 

to  play  upon  all  Inflruments  of  Mufick, 
to  the  difgu fling  the  whole  Audience?  Who 
is  not  charm 'd  with  Clavius's  Re/cue,  from 
the  Land  of  Ignorance ;  whither  he  was  upon 
the  Point  of  being  baniih'd  by  the  Society,  for 
an  utter  Incapacity?  Who,  but  thinks,  he 
made  more  than  Amends,  by  his  extraordinary 
Improvements  of  a  tingle  Science,  for  his 
intire  Ignorance  of  all  the  reft  ?  I  once  heard 
a  Sermon  before  the  moft  illiterate  Con- 
gregation, from  a  Divine  learn'd  according  to 
your  Heart's  Defire ;  which  I  then  thought, 

and 


t  33  J 

find  do  ftill  think,  the  moft  barren  and  uri-5 
profitable  one  that  I  ever  heard  in  my  Life. 
It  abounded  with  the  Sentiments  of  the  Hea- 
then PbilpfcpherS)  agreeable  to  a  lingle  Point 
reveal'd  in  Holy  Scripture ^  which  I  never 
heard  difputed  or  denied  by  any  one.  The 
Quotations  evinced  much  reading,  and  as 
much  Time  was  fpent  in  them,  as  tho'  a  moll: 
neceflary  Article  of  our  Faith  had  depended 
upon  them.  The  Difcourie  being  firiimed 
without  drawing  a  iingle  Inference^  the  whole 
Service  was  concluded  with  as  improper  a 
Prayer  as  any  in  the  whole  common  Prayer 
Book.  Grant  we  befeech  thee,  Almighty 
GOD,  that  the  Words  which  we  have  heard 
this  Day  with  our  outward  Ears,  may  thro* 
thy  Grace  be  fo  grafted  inwardly  in  our 
Hearts,  that  they  may  bring  forth  in  us  the 
Fruit  of  good  living,  to  the  Honour  and 
Praife  of  thy  Name.  throV JESUS  CHRIST  our 
LORD.JM-!  am  humbly  of  Opinion  that  you 
will  allow  another  Minifter,  tho'  greatly 
inferior  in  Learning,  might  have  edified  fuch 
Hearers,  full  as  much  as  theslearned  Gentle- 
man^ by  reading  audibly,  and  diftindly,  a 
Homily  only,  I  think  you  ought  to  have 
highly  blamed  fuch  Patrons,  as  prefer  Clerks 
to  Places,  in  which,  they  muft  appear  with 
Contempt;  and  not  to  have  laid  on  more 
Stripes,  where  a  fevere  P.unijhment  is  lure  to 
follow.  Shame  jhall  be  the  Promotion  of  Fools* 
E  WHAT 


[34] 

WHAT  you  have  faid,  concerning  the  In- 
tention of  a  Minifter's  taking  upon  him  the 
Charge  of  a  PariCh,  and  his  quitting  it  j  as 
well  as  what  you  have  chiefly  advanced  under 
that  Head,  ieems  to  be  very  exceptionable 
and  unreaibnable.  According  to  what  you 
have  been  pleas'd  to  aflert,  1  cannot  lee  how 
any  Perfon  can  take  upon  him  the  Miniftry, 
that  is  fure  of  a  Competency,  or  a  plentiful 
Income,  &.c.  and  you  know  this  to  be  fre- 
quently the  Cafe.  It  happens  fometimes, 
that  a  Deacon  produces  for  his  Title  a  Pre^ 
fentation  to  a  Living,  when  he  offers  himfelf 
a  Candidate  for  Priefts  Orders.  Surely  this 
he  muft  be  fuppofed  to  have  in  his  View. 
What  therefore  is  a  Qualification  in  Part,  for 
his  taking  holy  Orders,  in  your  Senfe  utterly 
unqualifies  him.^Suppofe,  as  it  frequently 
happens,  a  Gentleman  out  of  Charity,  edu^ 
cates  the  hopeful  Child  of  poor  Parents ;  and 
afterwards  is  fo  imprudent,  as  to  promife 
upon  his  being  ordain'd,  to  give  him  a  good 
Living.  How  glad  foever  fuch  a  Son  might 
be  to  relieve  the  Neceffities  of  his  Parents,  he 
cannot,  according  to  you,  accept  of  it ;  be- 
caufe  the  "  plentiful  Income  would  caufe  a 
Mixture  in  his  Intention."  Suppofe  then  fuch 
a  one  fettled  at  firft  upon  a  mean  Curacy, 
hardly  affording  Food  and  decent  Rayment  y 
how  would  his  Heart  be  elated ;  his  Breaft 
i-nflam'd?  And  the  Bowels  of  his  Companion 

enlarged 

CD 


[353 

enlarged,  on  the  Receipt  of  a  Prefentation  ? 
But  how  wretched  a  Change  would  enfue  ? 
What  mrinking,  what  chilling  of  the  Bowels, 
would  follow  on  the  Information,  that  he 
muft  not  remove,  he  muft  not  change  for  the 
better ;  becaufe  there  was  plainly  "  an  Alloy 
of  bafer  Metal,,  worldly  Gain,  Jilt  by  Lucre 
in  the  Cafe  ?  "  Suppofe  farther,  that  many 
Years  pafs  before  the  Vacancy  happens,  and 
when  it  does,  this  polite  Gentleman-like  Cu- 
rate (for  fuch  according  to  you  all  Clergy  muft 
be)  following  your  fuperexcellent  Advice,  ne- 
ver waits  upon  the  Patron,  &c.  but  wifely  tar- 
ries at  Home,  cxpeding  the  Steward  at  leaft 
to  bring  and  drop  the  Prefentation  into  his  open 
Hands  :  And  fuppofe  the  Patron,  chagrin'd  at 
the  Behaviour  of  the  unmannerly  Booby,  be- 
ftows  the  Living  upon  another  Clergyman ; 
fcarce  two  Perfons  in  all  Great-Britain  will  be 
forry  at  his  Difappointment.  By  what  Com- 
mandment of  the  LORD  ?  By  what  Precept  of 
his  holy  Apoftles  ?  Or  how  in  common  Senfe, 
(to  omit  Chriftian  Prudence)  is  a  Clergyman 
to  be  flaked  down  worfe  than  a  Bear,  for  his 
Life  ?  Will  his  taking  to  a  better  Living  dii- 
qualify  him  for  doing  more  Good  to  himfelf, 
or  to  his  diftrefTed  Neighbour  ?  Or,  Will  his 
removing,  caufe  the  Word  of  GOD  and  his  Sa- 
craments, to  be  neither  preached,  nor  admi- 
niftred  in  that  Parifh  any  more  ?  Is  the  holy 
Ghoft,  in  the  Senfe  you  affign,  to  be  confined 
to  him  alone ;  or  is  it  not  to  be  given  thro* 
E  2  ether 


[36] 

other  Hands  alfo  ?  Why  then  fuch  ringing  of 
Changes  on  the  Words  Money  and  Gift,  Gift 
and  Money  ?   Why  that  hard,  not  to  fay,  un- 
charitable Rtfleffton?    "  He,   /.  e.  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  mall  be  given  no  more  thro'  your  Lips 
or  Hands,  if  you  have  no  more  Money  for  your 
Labour,  "  Why  that  Vehemency  of  Exclamar- 
tion  ?  O  Simon,  Simon  !  I  cannot  compare  you 
with  Simon  Magus  :    You  are  many  Degrees 
beneath  him. "    What,  Prudence  in  a  Clergy- 
man to  fight  foolifhly  even  againfl  the  Ele- 
ments ?  to  contend  in  a  Don  Quixotian  Way 
with  the  violent,  but  natural  Dijbrders  of  fom'e 
Places,   which  feldom   fail   to   attack  Stran- 
gers ?   To  impair  and  deftroy  his  Health,  the 
jnoft  precious  and  invaluableBleffing  he  enjoys, 
next  to  a  good  Confcience.     Did  you  never 
read  the  fecond  Edition  of  Ovid  de  triftibus,  by 
a  Curate  ? 

*'  Had  mournful  Ovid  been  to  Br — nt  confin'd  ? 
His  Triftibus  more  movingly  he'd  pen'd. 
Gladly  he'd  have  exchanged  this  miry  Slough, 
For  colder  Pontus,  and  the  Scythian  Snow. 
Agues  and  Fevers  with  us  as  conftant  reign, 
As  the  Itch  in  Scotland  or  the  Flux  in  Spain. 
Sure  this  is  Nature's  Jail,  for  Rogues  defign'd  ; 
Whoever  lives  in  Br — nt  mufllive  confin'd." 

"  But  it  is  not  his  taking,  but  his  feeking  a 
Salary,  that  you  blame."  A  poor  Curate  mufl 
fit  down  under  the  funny  Bank  of  a  warm 
Hedge,  and  quite  unmindful  of  colder  Sea- 

fon 


[  37  ] 

fons  foon  fucceeding,  fuffer the  Ha1tytht  Blind, 
and  the  Cripples  to  get  Poffeffion  of  every  good 
Curacy,  'till  the  Froft  and  Snow,  Cold  and 
Hunger,  correct  him  for  his  Folly,  and  chaf- 
tize  him  for  his  Negligence. 

THE  Intention  and  Defign  of  every  one  in 
undertaking  the  Office  of  aMinifter  are,  I  hope, 
the  Glory  of  GOD,  and  the  Welfare  of  Souls 
committed  to  his  Charge  :  But  why  any  one 
that  has  accepted  of  a  fmall  Living,  (or  rather 
the  Shadow  of  one)  mould  not  exchange 
it  for  a  better,  is  aMyftery  to  me,  if  not  to  you, 
who  pick  a  monftrous  Subfiftence  out  of  the 
Spoils  of  the  parochial  Clergy,  and  contentedly 
(helter  yourfelf  under  this  moft  fanctified  Falla- 
cy on  your  Audience,  "  that  you  deiire  or  wifh 
not  to  die  worth  more  than  ten  Pounds,"  which 
(in  Engltjh)  means,  that  you  would  never  wifh. 
to  be  poflefs'd  of  lefs  at  every  Period  of  your 
Exiftence.  Is  a  Minifter  lefs  able  to  difcharge 
the  weighty  Offices  of  his  Trufr,  when  he 
is  freed  and  difengag'd  from  the  urgent  Cares 
of  providing  for  the  real  Neceffities  of  Life  ? 
Add  to  this  a  Wife,  and  by  GOD'S  great  Blef- 
jfing  a  numerous  Family  j  and  in  what  Man- 
ner will  a  fmall  Living  maintain  a  large  Fami- 
ly ?  "  It  will  notcloatb  them,  you  fay,  in  Pur- 
ple and  fine  Linnen,  nor  enable  them  to  fare 
fumptuoujly  every  Day  :"  but  let  me  tell  you, 
'tis  nobly  done,  if  the  firft  Garment  be  wholly 

paid 


[  38  ] 

paid  for,  when  the  fecond  is  taken  up;  if  the 
fecond  Shirts  and  Shifts  of  coarfe  Linnen  are 
not  enter'd  upon  Book  with  the  former  ;  the 
Calf  eaten  in  the  Cows  Belly  -,  and  a  Meal  of 
Greens  go  down  with  a  little  Salt,  exclufiveof 
Bacon.  It  will  not  maintain  them,  you  add, 
in  Pomp  and  Grandeur,  in  elegant  Luxury,  in 
fafhionable  Senfuatity.  Let  me  tell  you  again, 
'tis  cruel  to  expofe,  but  it  is  monftrous  to  tri- 
umph over  Poverty.  I  know  the  Parifh  very 
well  whofe  Incumbent,  a  living  Inftance  of  the 
above  Diftrefs  j  being  told  by  a  certain  Per- 
fon,  that  he  admir'd  how  he  could  fleep,  in- 
volv'd  as  he  was  in  Debt  j  replied  with  great 
Readme fs  of  Speech,  t£  That  he  had  more 
Reafon  to  wonder  how  his  Creditors,  the 
Payment  being  fo  precarious,  could  take 
their  Reft.  Is  it  not  as  well  known  in  the 
prefent  Age,  as  it  has  been  truly,  tho'  la- 
'mentably  confefs'd  in  the  Days  of  old,  that 
the  Minifter  is  frequently,  not  by  his  own 
Fault,  but  his  Misfortune,  the  pooreft  Man 
in  the  Parifh  ?  It  is  obvious  why  in  your 
Pattern  to  the  Flock  you  have  infifted  upoa 
Love,  but  not  mention'd  Charity.  You  had 
indeed  afked  a  little  before,  am  I  zealous  of 
good  Works  ?  As  I  have  Time  do  I  do  Good 
to  all  Men  ?  and  that  in  every  Kind,  and  in 
as  high  a  Degree  as  I  am  capable  ?  You 
know  full  well  where  a  Cup  of  cold  Wa- 
ter is  the  utmoft  Ability  of  the  Donor,  Com- 

pajjion 


pajfion  muft  fbnd  for  Relief-,  pitying  fupply 
the  Want  of  proper  Remedy  in  Sicknefs ; 
and  in  all  other  the  like  Instances  the  Will 
muft  be  accepted  for  the  Deed.  What  Law 
of  GOD  or  Man  obliseth  a  Minifter  of  the 

o 

Gofpel  to  be  as  forgetful  of  his  Offspring  as 
the  Silk-worm  ?  or  that  having,  like  it,  fpent 
his  Strength,  fpun  out  his  very  Bowels  for 
the  Service  of  others  ;  to  leave  the  Wife  of 
his  Boibm,  and  the  Fruit  of  his  Body,  as 
they  do  their  Eggs,  to  the  Care  of  others  ? 
He  whofe  ineftfpenfable  Duty  is,  to  exhort 
Parents  to  lay  up  for  their  Children;  to  re- 
buke unnatural  ones  in  the  fevereft  Manner 
for  fo  unpardonable  a  Neglect  ;  and  who 
ought  unqueftionably  to  recommend  it  by 
his  own  Example,  is  himlelf  utterly  defti- 
tute  of  the  Means.  But  you  have  not  men- 
tioned one  Word  of  providing  for  their  ow?2 ; 
being  confcious  it  would  be  moft  ridiculous 
to  command  an  Impombility.  Nay,  what 
our  Forefathers,  in  great  Wifdom,  permit- 
ted the  Clergy,  for  a  better  Maintenance,  to 
exercife  their  Hands  with  harder  Labour  than 
that  of  holding  the  Pen,  you  not  only  dif- 
courage,  but  utterly  condemn.  But  many 
of  the  Clergy  experimentally  know,  that  it 
is  not  every  one's  Lot  to  live  by  his  Wits-, 
and  are  patient  and  content  in  endeavouring 
to  get  a  little  better  Bread  by  their  Induftry 
on  the  ordinary  Days,  than  the  Sweat  of  their 
Faces  would  have  procui'd  them  on  the  LORD'S 
Day  only.-  HAD 


[  40   ] 

HAD  you  lived  in  the  Apoftles  Days,  and 
furpriz'd  St.  Paul,  working  with  his  own 
Hands  to  fupply  his  Neceffity ;  to  what  a  De- 
gree of  £eal  and  Indignation  wou'd  your 
meek  Spirit  of  Refentment  have  been  rais'd  ? 
For  furely  it  wou'd  have  feem'd  but  reafon- 
able,  it  muft  naturally  have  been  thought 
highly  fo  ;  that  he  who  had  proved  fuch  an 
over  Match  by  his  Reafoning  and  Deductions 
for  the  wife  Men  and  Philofophers  at  Athens, 
and  had  rais'd  fuch  an  Admiration  of  him- 
felf  at  Corinth,  mould  rather,  »frifn  employ- 
ing his  Needle  in  Tent-Stick,  have  been  ufmg 
his  Tongue,  the  bed  Member  that  he  had, 
to  the  more  important  Work  of  the  Miniftry, 
and  to  the  Glory  of  his  GOD. 

I  AM  perfwaded  that  under  the  Head  of 
good  Breeding,  you  are  guilty  of  another 
wilful  OmifTion.  You  certainly  know  that 
"  the  Addrefs,  the  Eafinefs,  and  all  the 
Courtefy  of  a  Gentleman,  joined  with  the  Cor- 
rectnefs  of  a  Scholar;"  make  at  leaft  an  im- 
perfect, if  not  a  ridiculous  Figure,  without 
the  Embellishments  of  the  Taylor.  An  Ador 
perfonating  "  one  of  the  beft  bred  Men  in 
the  World,  one  of  the  fined  Gentlemen," 
knows  perfectly  well,  how  vain  an  Attempt 
it  would  prove,  to  aim  at  "  a  Propriety  of 
Behaviour,"  without  a  Propriety  of  Drefs. 

Nil  habet  inftelix  Paupertas  durius  in  Ser 
quod  ridicules  Homines  fad  t." 


Many  of  the  inferior  Clergy,  however  tole- 
rable Matters  of  the  Fiddle  and  a  Dance, 
muft  patiently  fubmit  to  have  the  Graceful^ 
nefs  of  their  Motion,  and  Elegance  of  their 
Addrefs,  to  be  proportionably  leveled  with  the 
Meannefs  of  their  outward  Garb.  A  certain 
Chancellor  beholding  to  how  low  an  Ebb  the 
Value  of  the  Livings  in  his  Diocefe  had 
been  gradually  reduced,  and  that  they  were 
ftill  finking ;  gave  it  as  his  Opinion,  that  in 
a  little  Time,  few  Clergymen  in  it  would 
be  able  to  afford  to  purchafe  a  Goivn  and 
Cajfickfor  themfelves.  I  wifh  from  the  very 
Bottom  of  my  Soul,  that  every  Clergyman 
had  an  Income,  enabling  him  to  fupport 
with  Decency  the  Dignity  of  his  Character  j. 
to  brighten  it  with  Love,  and  enamel  it 
with  Charity :  In  a  Word,  to  be  in  a  Capa- 
city to  do  Good  unto  all  Men,  and  to  make  a 
convenient  Provilion  for  his  whole  Family, 
or  a  prudent  Referve  for  himfelf  j  and  if  this 
were  the  Cafe  few  wou'd  then  accept  of,  and 
fewer  defend  Pluralities. 

WHAT  would  be  imprudent  in  any  Man  is 
highly  blameable  in  a  Clergyman,  viz.  not  to 
provide  for  future  Chances.  Whilft  he  is  in 
the  Body  he  is  fubject  to  Sicknefs,  to  Acci- 
dents, and  muft  bow  down  under  the  Infir- 
mities of  Age.  Since  my  Remembrance  a 
Phyficiaris  Fee  is  increas'd  three-fourths,  and 
a  Surgeons  Bill  is  become  equally  proverbial 
with  a  Taylors.  A  Friend^  which  is  as  a  Mans 

F  own 


[ 


42   ] 


°wn  Scut,  may  alfo  fall  into  fuch  Diftrefs  as 
It  may  be  entirely  out  of  his  Power  to  emerge 
rom.  Now  it  muft  be  very  cutting  to  any  Man, 
much  more  to  a  Clergyman,  to  be  in  a  Ca- 
pacity only  to  fympathize  with,  but  not 
cafe  fuch  a  one  from  the  preflirtg  Weight 
he  labours  under.  I  am  very  much  miftak- 
cn,  if  the  Lories  fuftain'd  by  the  late  hard 
Frofts,  are  not  fenfibly  felt  by  fome  Clergy- 
men to  this  Day.  Much  was  (own,  but  very 
little,  efpecially  in  fome  Parts  of  the  King- 
dom, brought  into  the  Barns.  Great  Abate- 
ments were  made  out  of  a  tender  Companion 
for  the  heavy  LofTes  fuftain'd  by  their  Pari- 
fhioners  by  fome,  who  were  not  only  Fel- 
low-Sufferers, but  greatly  diftrefs'd  themfelves. 

SHOULD  a  Clergyman  divert  himfelf  pro- 
fitably by  fhooting  fuch  Birds,  as,  like  the 
Quails  around  the  Ifraelites  Camp,  feem  to  of- 
fer themfelves  freely,  for  his  Ufe  and  Bene- 
fit ;  or  allift  in  deftroying  with  Dogs,  fuch 
Vermin  as  would  foon  increafe  upon  them, 
to  the  great  Lofs  of  his  own,  as  well  as  his 
Neighbour's  Lambs  and  Poultry  ;  it  would, 
it  feems,  according  to  you,  amount  to  an 
unpardonable  Crime.  St.  Johns  diverting 
himfelf  with  a  tame  Partridge,  kept  on 
Purpofe,  may  raife  your  Pity  rather  than 
provoke  your  Spleen,  as  being  a  certain 
Indication  that  Age  had  got  the  Afcend- 
ant  over  Reafon  ;  when  a  Difciple  fo  belo- 
ved by  his  Lord  and  Mailer  could  fink  fo  far 

beneath 


[43   ] 

beneath  the  Dignity  of  a  Man,  not  to  fay  a 
Chriftian,  a$  to  (hew  a  Paffion  for  cbtidifl) 
Things.  You  feern  to  have  an  Eye  to  that 
Text  of  holy  Scripture,  Bodily  Exercife  pro- 
fteth  little \  but  Godlinefs  is  profitable  unto  all 
Things  ;  and  to  underftandtne  latter  Part  in  its 
full  Extent,  but  not  to  allow  the  former 
Part  to  profit  a  little  ;  rather,  as  being  en- 
tirely inconfiftent  with  the  Chriftian  Reli- 
gion, that  it  doth  not  profit  at  all.  I  am 
humbly  of  Opinion,  that  being  feafonably, 
properly,  and  fufficiently  ufed,  that  foetid, 
prurient  Matter  would  be  effectually  dif- 
charg'd  thro'  the  Pores  of  the  Body,  which 
is  very  apt  to  flow  from  the  Tongues  and  Pens 
of  fome  opinionated  Authors.  They  would 
foon  find  it  a  grand  Specifak,  powerful  to 
eradicate  every  Symptom  of  that  Scorbutick 
Diforder,  the  Cacoethes  of  Scribbling,  of  dog- 
matically and  imperioully  dictating  to  Equals. 

A  CERTAIN  'Squire,  having  rigidly  pro- 
fecuted,  or  expell'd  from  their  Homes,  fome 
Perfons  for  catching  a  few  Fi(h,  was  drawn 
into  the  following  Snare.  Three  Men,  well 
ikill'd  in  playing  at  Quarter -ftaff,  for  his  Skill 
in  which  the  'Squire  piqued  himfelf  highly, 
agreed  that  he  mould  either  beat  them  fmgly, 
or  that  whofoever  of  them  prevail'd,  mould 
drub  him  foundly.  1  he  Time  and  Place  being 
tix'd  on  for  the  Execution,  they  difpatch'd 
a  VlelTenger  to  acquaint  him,  for  he  had  pub- 
F  2  lickly 


[44] 

lickly  offer'd  a  Reward  for  fo  doing,  that  a 
Poacher  was  catching  his  Trouts.  The  'Squire 
immediately  advancing  with  his  Quarter-Staff, 
his  conftant  and  ufeful  Companion,  either  to 
annoy  others,  or  to  defend  himfelf,  finds  a 
Fellow  groping  under  the  Coverts  for  Trouts, 
two  or  three  of  which  lay  dead  on  the  Ground. 
What  Sport,  my  Friend,  fays  the  'Squire  ?  a 
little,  replies  the  fly  Knave,  but  I  hope  by 
and  by  to  have  much  better.  Are  thefe  all 
the  Trouts  you  have  taken  ?  No,  Sir ;  I  have 
a  fine  String  of  Filh  a  little  above.  Prithee 
let  me  fee  them  :  You  fhall.  Then  ftepping 
forwards,  he  nimbly  draws  forth  his  Quar- 
ter-Staff from  its  Concealment,  leaps  on  the 
Ground,  flourishes  his  Weapon,  and  cries, 
this  is  the  String  of  Fifh  I  have  for  you,  Ma- 
fter.  Are  you  in  earneft,  Friend,  fays  the 
'Squire?  I  am,  was  the  Reply,  and  you 
mail  either  beat  me,  or  I'll  drub  you  dam- 
nably. Come  on  then,  fays  the  "Squire. 
But  alas !  in  a  Trice  he  came,  he  faw,  he 
conquered.  The  mercilefs  Bruifer,  having 
regularly  baflinadoed  him  from  the  Heel 
to  the  Shoulder,  turn'd  him  over,  as  he 
layed  unluckily  on  one  Side,  with  his  Quar- 
ter-Staff on  the  other.  On  repeating  the 
fame  Operation,  the  'Squire  cries  out,  doft 
intend  to  kill  me  ?  No,  replies  the  Bruifer  j 
I  don't  love  thee  well  enough  to  be  liang'd  for 
thee ;  you'll  find  me  a  Man  of  my  Word,  being 
determin'd  that  one  Side  of  your  Body  {hall 

not 


[45  ] 

not  laugh  at  the  other.  The  two  Confede^ 
rates,  that  lay  in  an  adjacent  Wood,  march'd 
off  triumphantly  with  their  Hero,  and  left 
the  'Squire  to  fneak  away  to  his  Home  as 
well  as  he  could. 

THIS  Gentleman  killing  the  leading  Dog 
of  a  Pack  of  Hounds  purfuing  their  Game 
athwart  his  Lands,  was  thoroughly  convinc'd 
at  common  Law,  that  he  might  legally  pound, 
but  not  kill  any  Creature  for  a  Trefpafs. ;  and 
therefore  immediately  erects  a  Pound  for  Dogs. 
Poor  Pufs,  foon  after  hunted  by  the  fame  Pack 
of  Hounds,  runs  clofe  by  a  Clergyman's  Houfe, 
in  the  Porch  of  which  he  then  happened  to 
fit  with  a  Book.  The  Clergyman  doling  the 
Book,  quits  the  Pleafure  of  reading,  for  the 
Diver  lion  of  hunting.  The  aforefaid  'Squire, 
hearing  the  Hounds  coming  on  in  full  Cry 
towards  his  Eftate,  fummons  his  Servants ; 
who  by  a  Stratagem  caught  two  or  three  of 
the  Dogs,  and  actually  pounded  them.  The 
Clergyman  finding  his  Sport  fpoiPd,  and  be- 
ing acquainted  with  the  Caufe,  immediately 
attempts  a  peaceable  Retreat  to  his  Houfe. 
The  'Squire  loudly  calls  after  him,  and  upon 
his  facing  about,  afks  whether  he  had  ever 
read  in  his  Bible,  that  any  of  the  ^poflles 
went  a  hunting?  The  Clergyman  con- 
fefs'd,  that  no  Mention  being  made  of  hunt- 
ing in  thofe  Places  where  they  preach'd,  he 
never  read  the  dpoftles  went  a  hunting  j  but 

added, 


[46  ] 

added,  that  he  had  frequently  read  they  went 
a  fiming.  This  feems  to  be  a  Licence,  an 
Apoftolical  one,  for  the  innocent  Diverfion  of 
Angling  ;  the  Legality  of  which  no  one,  it  is 
prefum'd,  that  reads  this,  will  be  fo  hardy 
as  to  deny. 

THE  Prophets,  that  formerly  haunted  the 
Fields,  for  you  muft  not  imagine  that  Device 
to  be  primarily  yours,  had  a  Profecution  com- 
menced againft  them  in  the  Court  of  Kings- 
Bench,  by  Mr.  Attorney  General.  It  was 
concluded,  upon  a  Confutation  held  by  the 
Leaders  of  this  famous  Troop,  that  they 
could  only  quam  the  Profecution,  by  bully- 
ing the  Lord  Chief  Juftice.  They  declared 
therefore  to  his  Face,  that  GOD  had  imme- 
diately fent  them,  to  threaten  him  with  eter- 
nal Damnation,  unlefs  he  put  a  Stop  to  the 
Profecution  commenced  in  his  Court,  againft 
the  Prophets  that  were  prophefying  in  this 
Land  for  its  Good.  You  may  depend  upon 
it,  Gentlemen,  replied  the  Lord  Chief  Ju/tice, 
that  you  have  received  your  Direction  wrong. 
The  Attorney  General -may,  but  GOD  knows 
it  is  not  in  my  Power  to  do  it.  Thus  after 
your  Mountain  has  been  in  Labour-,  after  fo 
many  violent  Throws,  and  Pangs  ;  you  are 
eafed  of  your  Fardel,  to  the  Mirth  of  the 
Spectators,  as  many  a  Woman  feigning  herfelf 
Pregnant  has  been ;  and  the  Compofttion  evi- 
dently demonftrates  the  Parent.  Therefore 

when 


[47  ] 

when  the  Weather-Cock  (lands  always  true  to 
a  fmgle  Point^  notwithstanding  the  continual 
varying  and  fhifting  of  the  Wind ;  when  the 
Moon  conftant  in  nothing  but  Changes,  ex- 
cells  in  Glory  the  Sun  invariably  the  fame ; 
when  a  wandering  Star  be  preferred  for  Direc- 
tion to  a  fixed  Star  ;  then  may  you  expect  to 
be  confirmed  in  an  ufurped  Province  of  Cur- 
/itory  Inquifitor,  and  Director  general  of  the 
Clergy.  If  you  think  by  Precept^  to  fettle 
your  ^Timothys  and  T/Vw's,  immoveably  in  the 
vileft  Station,  Crete  \  when  by  a  more  power- 
ful but  fhameful  Example  you  are  feducing 
them  to  roam  at  large  j 

'*  Nihilo  plus  agis,  ac  fi.  des  Operam,  ut  cum  ratione  infanias. 
Aude  aliquid  brevibus  Gyaris  &  Carcere  dignum  ; 
Si  vis  efle  aliquid," 

To  be  notable,  is  to  be  excentrick ;  to  be 
excentrick,  is  to  be  admired.  You  vainly 
expert  to  lead  all  Men,  as  you  do  your 
blind  Followers.  You  affirm  in  one  Pa^e 

o 

what  you  deny  in  another.  You  write  a 
whole  Treatife  againft  Matrimony,  and  per- 
fetfitby  marrying.  Some  think  you  afted 
in  this  Manner  like  a  prudent  Widow,  who 
locked  up  her  marriageable  Daughter  for  the 
better  difpofing  of  herfelf.  You  fent  before 
you  a  moft  expert  Officer,  to  take  the  Advan- 
tage of  Ground. 

<c-  Little  Cupid  took  his  Stand, 
Upon  a  Widow's  Joynture  Land." 

You 


r  48 

You  foon  anfwered  all  your  former,  and  all  the 
Arguments  your  Charmer  cou'd  advance,  from 
that  never- failing  Battery,  your  peculiar  Lo- 
gick,  of  proving  or  difprovihgj  and  by  the 
Force  of  your  Rhetorick, 

Led  off  triumphantly  the  golden  Prize. 

With  you  a  Woman  to  difpute  ? 

"  You  ftill  change  Sides,  and  ftill  confute." 

You  frequently  out  of  great  Modefty,  and 
greater  Prudence,  conquer  the  undeniable 
Proofs  of  your  Antagonifts  by  a  moft  pro- 
found Silence. 

A  Replication  is  a  Jeft. 

He  that  writes  firft,  writes  always  beft. 

By  this  very  Method  you  have  moft  effectu- 
ally anfwer'd  what  you.promisM  the  Publick 
in  Print,  a  certain  Affidavit. made  in  this  City, 
by  a  Gentleninn,  .in  ftelafien^e  your/-?— 
in  Georgia.  •<TJie.re>s.nc?^reat-f3anger  of  y9ur 
future  Excursions  toB.  •th,at.%G?/^«)' ;  nor  any 
Hopes  of  your,  hajfin^"  »L«fiilu*e.  to  fetch  in 
Perfon  wljat  they  fire  fo/tedjoui  in  fending, 
an  Eclair c ifmeyt  of  that  Affair.  If  you  have 
burnt  your  "-Fingers  by  intenmeddling,  it 
is  a  Demoiiflration  -that  you  'are  too'  old  xo 
learn,  and  too  wife'to.  be  taught,  even  by  an 
Apoftle ;  and  ther.efore  you,  are  the  lefs  to  be 
pitied  when  you  fuffer  as  an  ' 


A     000100519     8 


i-  - 
. 


